Libertarianism – the political ideology of the live
and let live – is enjoying a surge in popularity. Some believe its hour has
finally arrived and it can truly become an alternative to the Republican Party.

I understand its appeal. I like libertarians, and
can read Ludwig Von Mises
and listen to Murray Rothbard all day long. But it isn't an alternative. It's
an electoral distraction.

Diehard libertarians disagree, of course. Last week
the Libertarian Party's 2012 presidential nominee, Gary Johnson, visited
Alabama on a fund-raising tour. The former two-term
governor of New Mexico made stops in Mobile, Montgomery and Birmingham touting
his party's message of civil
liberties and personal responsibility. He probably met receptive audiences
since more voters are identifying
themselves as libertarians now than at anytime in recent
memory.

This trend should worry conservatives, especially
since the libertarian candidate cost the GOP votes – and victory – in last
year's gubernatorial election in Virginia.

But how many of these new libertarians really
support what the Libertarian Party stands for?

Many call themselves libertarians because of a
single issue – pot. When comedian, drug legalization activist and
self-identified libertarian Bill
Maher attended one of conservative Grover Norquist's policy discussions, he
rattled off a list of things the government should be doing and how taxes
should increase as well. Norquist
laughed, and then asked if he represented the big government wing of the
Libertarian Party. Maher didn't
get the joke.

Some identify with libertarians until they scratch
beyond the surface of "Hey, freedom, baby!" and learn about the party's actual
positions. Others just don't want to be called conservatives, much less
Republicans.

There are certainly true believers who bear the
scars of a generational battle with conservatives. William F. Buckley drummed
them out of the Republican Party decades ago and they've been building a 50-state
network ever since. Their sincerity is beyond doubt, but their judgment remains
in serious question.

"It's the libertarian principles that matter," wrote
a good friend while debating the issue over email recently. However, their
beliefs seem more like doctrine than principles. Conservatives believe in
principles – limited government, individual liberty, free enterprise – and
apply them to unique problems while guided by tradition and morality. We have
flexibility to make judgments.

Libertarianism, as far as I can tell, demands
consistent application of its beliefs, regardless of their impact. Responses to
an issue must always be X, no matter if X is harmful or unwanted. Consistency
isn't a virtue in government; its application will eventually end in tyranny or
chaos.

Libertarians take a principle – the right to keep
and bear arms, for example – and stretch it to cover "the right to own any
weapon," according to the Libertarian
Party of Alabama's website. So if you don't believe that your
neighbor has a right to carry a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, you might
not be a libertarian.

If you believe in publicly-funded primary education –
either through public schools or vouchers – you might not be a libertarian. The
party's website reveals how they take a principle that declares "education of
children is a parental responsibility" and apply it to mean "individuals
without kids in the school system should not be forced to pay for a system they
aren't utilizing." So only children whose parents could afford tuition would
get educations. Our nation would collapse in a generation.

If you believe our borders should be enforced and
illegal aliens deported, you might not be a libertarian. The party's website
states that anyone who makes it to the U.S. should be able to stay. That's the
principle of freedom of movement consistently applied.

If you believe the FDA should inspect the medicines
you give your child, that Medicare should be around for your parents, and that
Medicaid should be available for the truly poor and disabled, then you might
not be a libertarian.

If you remain unsure whether you're an authentic
libertarian or just a dissatisfied political drifter – like my good friend –
you can visit the Libertarian Party of Alabama's website. It has a clear
issue-by-issue guide to help you decide. Perhaps you'll find that you're less
of a libertarian, and more of a conservative, than you care to admit.

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